Galvanic battery.



PATENTBD JULY 1.2, 1964. G. B. SGHOBNMBHL.

GALVANIG BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1900.

gmmmwoz o athwaoaolooo O 00000000000 o 90000000000 o Hozumdxl UNTTED STATES Patented July 12, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

CHARLES B. SCHOENMEHL, OF WATERBRY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE IVATERBURY BATTERY COMPANY, OF IATERBURY, CON- NECTICUT, A JOINT STOCK COMPANY.

GALVANIC BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,826, dated July 12, 1904.

i Application tiled November 2, 1900. Serial No. 35,234. (No modali) To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. SCHOEN- MEHL, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Vaterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Galvanic Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in galvanic batteries of the open-circuit type, such as are used for railroad signal-work and numerous other places and wherein zinc constitutes the positive and oXid-of-copper scale the negative element, both of which are used in connection with a suitable caustic or other solution. Vhen batteries of this class become exhausted, considerable trouble and unnecessary loss of time is necessary to recharge the same, and

this is especially true of the various types employing a so-called basket to retain the copper oXid. The negative element, as previously implied, comprises oXid-of-copper scale placed in a suitable basket or other receptacle. This scale when consumed has to be removed from the receptacle and a fresh charge inserted. The scale when consumed becomes more or less solidified and adheres greatly to the receptacle, with the result that it is dithcult and almost impossible in some instances to properly remove it and is frequently neces-v sary to gouge it out with a chisel or other instrumcnt.

It is therefore the object of my invention to produce a battery element of the above class whose ingredients will be thoroughly and uniformly consumed, can be conveniently and readily recharged, which shall be of the simplest possible type to produce the result desired, being' cheap in construction, simple of operation, easily manipulated, and otherwise generally desirable to the trade.

I ith the above objects in view my invention resides and consists in the novel and simple construction of a battery and combination of parts shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings, forming a part of this specification, upon which similar characters of reference `ing my improvement.

denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures, and of which*- Figure l shows a central Vertical cross-section throughout a complete battery embody- Fig. 2 is a diminutive detail view of a central rod for supporting the negative element, together with the covers for the jar and Vnegative element iiXed thereto. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a conical-shape cylindrical tube which is attached t0 the lower cover shown in Fig. 2 and which when assembled forms a basket to receive the 0Xid of copper and constitutes the negative element ofthe battery. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of vthe bottom of the basket shown in Figs. l and 3.

Referring in detail to the characters of ref-A d is preferably of a cylindrical form and supported from the cover by means of verticallydisposed rods e and f. The rod e in practice is preferably of iron and secured in place by means1 of nuts g and insulated from the cover by means of rubber washers 71,. The rod f is designed to also serve as a conducting medium and is consequently formed of brass.

YIts attachment to the cover is similar to that of the iron rod, being provided with clamping-nuts c' and insulating-washers j. A binding-screw lc is applied to the threaded extremity ofthe rod and is designed for attaching field-wire Z in the usual manner.

The negative elemeutof my battery com prises the essential features and consists, first, in a centrally conducting and supporting rod m, which is attached to the cover in any suitable wayas, for instance, by means of clamping-nuts n and insulating-washers 0, together with a binding-screw p for attaching the fieldwire q. To this rod I permanently attach the cover v' of the basket containing the neg'ative element This cover may be secured by means of jam-nut .5', as shown in Fig. l, or the stock of the rod may be set up on either' side of said cover to hold it in place, as shown in Fig. 2. The former construction (shown in Fig. l) will permit of a vertical adjustment of the cover, if necessary, when first assembling, while the latter will be fixed once for all. To the lower end of the rod ml also attach a suitable nut t, which serves to receive the bottom u of the basket, said bottom being' held firmly in place by means of a thumb-nut e, as clearly appears in Fig. l. The body of the basket w is perforated, as shown in the drawings, and is of a conical shape, being' larger at the top than the bottom. This body is held between the two end caps r and u, the fianges of which overlap the edge of the body in a manner to prevent any lateral displacement.

The purpose of the conical shape of the basket is twofold-first, to produce a basket.

which is larger at the top than the bottom, thus providing an element having a larger quantity of oxid of copper at the upper end, where the solution is the strongest. and giving a more uniform and complete consumption and coloring' of the same; second, the c0nical-shaped basket insures a free and easy discharge of the consumed ingredient when the batteries become exhausted, it being simply necessary to withdraw the rod from the basket and give said basket a few taps at the enlarged end, whereupon the entire mass will drop out in a lump, after which it may be reoxidized. In some instances I may elect to simplify and cheapen this element by omitting the use of the cover P and the parts intermediate thereof and the top cover thus placing the basket jam up against the said top cover The manipulation of the basket for recharging is as follows: The operator simply lifts the cover from the jar, together with the attached parts, including both elements of the battery, after which the thumb-nut c' is run off from the end of the rod fn.. The cover u and the nut z5 are next removed with the body of the basket, which, together with its residue, is slipped off from the rod, given a few taps, causing said residue to become freed and drop out. The basket may then be placed back against the top cover a and the new charge of copper poured in, whereupon the lid u and the thumb-nut e would all be firmly replaced, as before. This construction permits of a quicker manipulation in recharging' than any battery which I know of and is, as before stated, obviously desirable to the trade.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isd

1. In a battery, the combination with the other parts, of a basket circular in cross-section for holding' a depolarizer having exterior perforated tapering side walls producing a conical-like receptacle larger at its top end than the other and a removable cover for one of said ends.

2. In a battery, the combination with the other parts, of a removable perforated depolarizer-basket circular in cross-section with tapering side walls and being broader through one end than the other, a removable cap or caps for one or both of said ends, and a Zinc encircling said basket.

3. In a battery, the combination with the other parts, of a receptacle for holding a depolarizer, supported from the cover or bridge of the battery-cell and provided with a perforated wall inclined at an angle other than a right angle to a vertical line passing through the receptacle, a rod, covers inclosing the basket and means for detachably securing the covers to the rod.

4. In a battery, the combination with the other parts, of a receptacle for holding a depolarizer having its side walls perforated and set at an angle other than a right angle to a vertical line passing through said receptacle, a central rod and a removable cap for the receptacle, and means for detachably securing said cap to the rod and receptacle.

5. In a battery, the combination with the other parts, of a conical depolariZer-basket having exterior perforated tapering side walls, producing a receptacle larger through one end than the other, oxid-of-copper scale in said basket and a Zinc encircling said basket.

6. In a galvanic battery of the class described, a negative element comprising' a central rod having a cover attached thereto, a conical receptacle detachabl y connected to said cover, a lid to inclose the smaller end of the receptacle, and detachable nuts fixed to the lower end of the rod to permit of the removal of the lid and the withdrawal of the body, oXidof-copper scale and a zinc inclosing the basket.

7. In a battery of the class descibed, a negative element comprisinga conical-shaped basket adapted to receive oxid-of-copper scale, separate ends inclosing said basket, a central rod passing through said basket, detachable nuts for clamping said ends to the rod and conical basket and means for supporting said element on the cover of a jar.

8. In a battery of the class described, the combination of a jar containing a suitable conducting solution and a positive element, of a negative element located therein and comprising a perforated basket having diverging side walls, a central binding-rod, removable ends therefor and nuts for clamping said ends to the body of the basket.

9. In a battery of the class described, the combination with a jar containing a suitable conducting solution and a positive element, of

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and conducting rod, of a cover adjustably secured thereto, a. perforated body beneath seid Wall inclined at an angle other thatn'aJ right cover having diverging side Walls of a larger angle to a vertical line passing through the rediemeter at the top than the bottom, a. removoeptaole, all substantially as set forth. able cover inolosing the lower end or' said body Signed et Bridgeport, in the county of Fair- I 5 5 and detachable nuts for removing said lower field and State of Connecticut, this 30th day cover irrespective of the upper one, substanof October, A. D. 1900.

tially as shown and described.

10. In a battery, the combination with the CHARLES B' SQHOENMEHL' )ther parts, of a receptacle for holding a de- Witnesses: O polarizer, supported above the bottom of the C. M. NEWMAN,

battery-cell and provided with a perforated ANNA VVANAMAKER. 

